HEATHCOTE GIVES ESTRONDO HIS CHANCE AT FEATURE RACE GLORY IN THE TWO-YEAR-OLD JEWEL

By Graham Potter | Friday, March 8, 2024

When Robert Heathcote last brought a feature race runner to the Gold Coast, he walked away having trained the winner of the $3 million Magic Millions Guineas courtesy of Abounding’s committed finishing effort in a pressurised battle which carried the filly to a hard-earned victory.

On Saturday, Heathcote will be looking to strike again when he saddles the Spirit Of Boom colt Estrondo in the AQUIS QTIS Jewel for two-year-olds.

Estrondo has only had one start ... a fair enough debut win at the Sunshine Coast ... which gives him the distinction of being only runner in the race with an unbeaten record. One win only ... but still true.

Possibly weighing against that positive though, is Estrondo’s lack of race experience, particularly as he will jump from barrier draw number eleven which would ssem to ensure that he will racing in-between runners, at very least in the early stages of the contest.

“It was a nice win. I suppose you’ve got to be a little bit careful in assessing it because it was on a heavy 10 and he was first-up,” said Heathcote.

“Fair to say he handled it though ... and I believe the Gold Coast track is rated soft at this stage and they are apparently expecting a bit more rain ... so that is certainly not going to bother him ... but, yes, his inexperience, racing in a big field will be a factor and we’ll just have to see how he copes with the challenge.

“Having said that, “he’s a bloody nice little horse,” volunteered Heathcote. “He is a good-looking rooster.

“As you know know, I’m not a big runner of two-year-olds ... and I’ll profess to that. I’m a very conservative trainer of juveniles and as soon as they have a setback or show any sign that something may not be quite right, I will take a step back, pull the pin and give them a break.

“After Estrondo’s run I had everything checked over. I had him vetted. We ran a blood test on him. We’ve done everything any decent trainer would do to look after his welfare ... and he has just kept on ticking all of the boxes.

"He has come on well since his run, so he deserves his shot at a $500 000 race.”

Estrondo will be ridden by Kyle Wilson-Taylor.

The colt is currently on the fourth line of betting at $10.

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